Our telecommunications practice is focused on securing construction and land use approvals for telecommunications facilities (such as commercial mobile radio towers, satellite earth stations, and fiber optic networks), and on transactional work related to the purchase or sale of telecommunications assets. Siting approvals we have secured include construction permits for a 150 foot tall (5-carrier) monopole built on protected watershed property; an antenna array installed on the roof of a landmark hotel in New York City; and a "stealth" antenna installation hidden inside the steeple of an historic colonial-era church. Construction approvals we have obtained also include pole attachment and municipal franchise agreements permitting the installation of antennas and fiber optic cable on electric transmission towers, utility poles, and street lights. Currently we are assisting wireless carriers with the regional rollout of LTE, 4G and broadband technologies which in some cases include the installation of redundant backhaul and backup power components. We are active in the public safety radio sector and are privileged to have served as land use counsel for the interoperable voice and data networks developed for the public safety and public service departments in New York City. Guiding telecommunications projects through the federal, state and local environmental review process is an important part of the service we provide. Moreover, on a daily basis, teams comprised of firm attorneys and paralegals review title reports, environmental audits, lease agreements and other documents related to transactional due diligence. Our transactional experience includes negotiating and drafting leases, franchises, easements, construction contracts, and in-building access agreements for telecommunications facilities. In the rare event litigation is required to protect the interests of our clients, we are comfortable in both federal, state trial and appellate courts.

On behalf of a wide variety of corporate, private, and non-profit clients, our attorneys regularly appear before municipal zoning and planning boards throughout New York and New Jersey. We are thoroughly familiar with all forms of zoning and land use regulation, including the particularly arcane procedures of land use agencies such as the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals, the New York City Planning Commission, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, the New York State Office of Historic Preservation, the New York State Cemetery Board and the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission. Our attorneys can assist clients in implementing Smart Growth and LEED certified projects.

We have successfully obtained zoning, planning, architectural and environmental approvals for hundreds of high profile, and often controversial, public utility projects, including wireless telecommunications towers, telephone switching facilities, the extension of a natural gas pipeline, and the construction of two refuse burning power plants. In addition, we have represented a major retailer on zoning development projects throughout the New York metropolitan area, expanding their ability to provide additional uses on existing sites including motor vehicle fueling stations. We also advise clients with more modest projects, such as representing private schools and operators of small day care facilities in various zoning matters involving the construction of new educational facilities.

The firm recently expanded its zoning and land use practice to represent clients with religious land use matters. The expansion has brought together highly-experienced firm attorneys from various practice groups to provide strategic counseling on all aspects of project development, including contracts for the acquisition of land, securing zoning and land use approvals and construction related matters for religious facilities. The firm recently secured zoning approvals for the construction of a house of worship in a residentially zoned area of an affluent New York suburb without the need for litigation thus avoiding the delays, uncertainties and costs associated with court proceedings.

The firm has more than two decades of experience in fiber optic network deployment. In 1990 Leslie Snyder represented the first municipality in Westchester County, New York to execute an agreement permitting installation of fiber optic facilities in its public right of way. The firm continues to focus on fiber optic deployment agreements through its representation of several telecommunication companies. Snyder & Snyder, LLP attorneys have extensive experience negotiating and drafting fiber optic right of way agreements with, among others, the New York State Thruway Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, PSE&G, Amtrak and Conrail. In addition, our attorneys have successfully obtained all necessary permits, licenses, easements, resolutions and other agreements required for the construction, installation and operation of fiber optic networks in, on, under and along public and private property. Once the networks have been constructed, our attorneys also provide advice and prepare documents related to the acquisition, disposition, use, operation and maintenance of fiber optic facilities, including Master Services Agreements relating to lit fiber services and Irrevocable Rights of Use Agreements for the use of dark fiber.

The firm has been counsel to the developers of numerous energy and environmental facilities including a natural gas pipeline extension, a water works tariff amendment, several electric substations, two regional waste-to-energy plants, and most recently, an 80' tall wind turbine. In this capacity, we have secured federal, state and local land use, zoning and regulatory approvals for these facilities (including Public Service Commission tariff approvals), structured the project financing using tax-exempt Industrial Development Revenue Bonds, overseen the environmental review process, and negotiated the leases, construction contracts, and power purchase agreements critical to the success of these projects.

Developing energy and environmental projects requires extensive due diligence to reduce the chances unforeseen legal infirmities will scuttle a project. To this end, attorneys in our energy and environmental facilities practice are frequently called upon to review title reports, analyze environmental audits, record leases, examine corporate approvals and secure lender subordination and non-disturbance agreements for the land, rooftops or tower sites upon which solar, wind or other renewable energy projects are located.

On a regular basis we counsel clients on all aspects environmental compliance, with a particular emphasis on securing construction permits and approvals from federal, state and local regulatory agencies. The US EPA, the NYS DEC, the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission, the NYC Planning Commission, the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals and the NYS Public Service Commission, are but a few of the agencies we appear before regularly. We are active in environmental litigation and have prepared and negotiated settlements and consent orders with regulatory agencies involving the cleanup and closure of hazardous waste disposal sites in several states.

Whether you are considering a network of rooftop solar panels in a dense urban area or a large offshore wind farm, Snyder & Snyder, LLP has the strategies, resources and experience to bring these projects on-line in a manner that is timely, cost effective and efficient.

Real estate and commercial transactions are an important part of our practice. We structure joint ventures, negotiate and review commercial leases, review software licensing agreements and regularly represent clients in the formation of business entities and in the purchase and sale of business interests.

In the area of real estate finance, our attorneys represent domestic and international clients in all aspects of real estate development. Our firm is often engaged to perform real estate due diligence which includes the review of complex ground and major tenant leases, as well as the review of title reports and related public records.

We are experienced in the preparation and review of real estate loan documentation including mortgages, notes, deeds of trust and indentures. We have negotiated commercial leases for national retail tenants seeking space in major shopping centers, office buildings, and public venues, such as the former World Trade Center Concourse and the passenger terminals of many international airports.

The firm represents clients in high-stakes disputes in every venue. We regularly appear in federal and state trial courts, in appellate courts, as well as before mediation, arbitration and administrative tribunals. The firm has the commitment, resources and tactical skills necessary to advance our clients' interests either at trial, through motion practice or in creative settlement discussions. When assigned a case, we assess the potential exposure of our client, the chances of success, settlement opportunities and the most cost-effective way to proceed. We have represented many of the nation's largest telecommunications companies in federal cases involving the siting of wireless facilities, in California, Arizona, New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire, often serving as lead trial counsel. In 2011, we brought one of the first successful federal "shot-clock" lawsuits, securing approvals to construct a cellular monopole from a municipality that failed to act within the time limits established by the Federal Communications Commission. Our litigation practice extends beyond wireless facility siting disputes. For example, we recently represented a commercial real estate developer in an environmental dispute with New York State concerning the remediation of a hazardous waste disposal site; and we successfully extricated a large tower developer from a contentious mortgage foreclosure proceeding, leaving its interest wholly immune from attack by a foreclosing lender. In addition, we regularly defend clients in local criminal courts and in related administrative hearings concerning alleged zoning, fire code, building code and environmental violations.

The First Amendment guarantees the right to petition our government. But "the right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously." 19 Stanford Law & Policy Review 32, n.22 (2008). Our clients are taken seriously. We bring 25 years of experience to issues involving the construction of energy, environmental and telecommunications facilities. Through Snyder Government Solutions, LLP, our affiliate, we research and analyze pending legislation and rulemaking proposals, monitor government actions, attend legislative and regulatory hearings, and help form coalitions on allied issues. We are registered lobbyists in the City of New York where we have been involved in the development of fiber optic, wind energy, cellular telephone and public safety radio networks. Winning the competition to be right requires an honest message born of profound understanding. We bring that commitment to each lobbying assignment we accept.